JP5787208B2 - Powder conveying apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a powder conveying apparatus including a merging unit that merges a first conveying pipe and a second conveying pipe for conveying powder toward a conveying destination, a copying machine using the same, a facsimile machine, The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer.

  Conventionally, an image forming apparatus for forming a toner image using toner as powder is known. For example, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, a toner image is formed by selectively attaching toner to a latent image formed on the surface of a latent image carrier such as a photoconductor. To do. Further, in a direct recording type image forming apparatus as described in Patent Document 2, a toner group that has been ejected in a dot shape from toner flying means is directly attached to a recording medium or an intermediate recording medium to form a toner image. In any of the methods, used toner that cannot contribute to the formation of the toner image due to residual transfer or scattering is inevitably generated in the latent image carrier or toner flying means. In general, these used toners are collected by a cleaning device or the like and then transported to a collected toner container by a toner transport device for disposal or reuse.

  In recent years when the image forming apparatus is being reduced in size and color, the configuration of the toner conveying device tends to be more complicated. For example, since the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 includes only one photosensitive member as a latent image carrier, a transfer tube for transferring the transfer residual toner recovered from the surface of the photosensitive member to a recovery container is provided. Only one should be provided. In contrast, an image forming apparatus for forming a color image includes four photoconductors for individually forming Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black) toner images. There is something that is. In this type of image forming apparatus, four transport pipes for individually collecting the transfer residual toner from the four photoconductors are necessary, so that the configuration of the toner transport apparatus becomes more complicated. Accordingly, the present inventors are developing a new toner conveying device shown in FIG. 1 as a toner conveying device mounted on an image forming apparatus provided with four photosensitive members. In the figure, the toner conveying device of the image forming apparatus includes a first conveying tube 960, a second conveying tube 970, and a junction 980 where these conveying tubes merge. The first transport pipe 960 is disposed in a posture extending in the vertical direction, and an upper end portion in the vertical direction is connected to a belt cleaning device (not shown), and a lower end portion is connected to the merge portion 980. . A belt cleaning device (not shown) connected to the upper end portion of the first transport tube 960 performs a cleaning process for untransferred toner on an intermediate transfer belt (not shown). The toner removed from the intermediate transfer belt by the belt cleaning device is sent to the first transport pipe 960. Then, the first transport pipe 960 is dropped by gravity and enters the junction 980.

  The second transport pipe 970 is disposed in a posture extending in the horizontal direction. A screw member 971 that is rotationally driven by a driving means (not shown) is disposed inside the second transport pipe 970. Y toner transport for dropping the Y (yellow) recovered toner, M (magenta) recovered toner, C (cyan) recovered toner, and K (black) recovered toner individually by gravity drop to the second transport tube 970 The tube, the M toner transport tube, the C toner transport tube, and the K toner transport tube are connected in a region not shown. The Y, M, C, and K toner conveying pipes are Y, M, C, and K collected from Y, M, C, and K photoconductors (not shown) for forming Y, M, C, and K toner images. This is for individually dropping the K transfer residual toner into the second transport pipe 970. The Y, M, C, K transfer residual toner dropped into the second conveyance pipe 970 is fed into the junction 980 while being conveyed from the right side to the left side in the drawing as the screw member 971 is driven to rotate. It is.

  The merge portion 980 extends in the vertical direction in a state of being connected in a straight line from below to the first transport pipe 960. Then, the toner received from the first transport pipe 960 and the toner received from the second transport pipe 970 are dropped into a collection toner container (not shown) by gravity drop.

  As described above, in the toner transport device under development, the first transport pipe 960, the second transport pipe 970, and the Y, M, C, and K toner transport pipes (not shown) are finally combined into one, and the collected toner is collected. Let the container drop by gravity. In such a configuration, the configuration of the toner conveying device can be simplified as compared with the case where the toner collected by each conveying tube is individually conveyed by a conveying member such as a screw member to immediately before the toner container.

  However, this toner conveying device has a problem that the inside of the merging portion 980 is easily clogged with toner as shown in FIG. Therefore, the present inventors have conducted intensive research on the cause of clogging the junction 980 with toner, and have found the following. That is, the amount of toner in each toner transport tube increases during a continuous image forming operation in which images are continuously formed on a plurality of recording sheets. However, when the cumulative image area of the toner image output during the continuous image forming operation is relatively small, the transfer residual toner generated with the image formation is relatively small, and as shown in FIG. The amount of toner transport in the second transport pipe 970 is relatively small. In this state, since the toner held around the screw member 971 can freely move in the screw rotation direction, the force in the screw axis direction applied from the screw member 971 to the toner becomes relatively weak. For this reason, when the toner enters the joining portion 980 having no bottom wall, the toner does not move so much in the screw axis direction and quickly falls toward the collection container. On the other hand, when the cumulative image area of the toner image output during the continuous image forming operation is relatively large, there is a relatively large amount of residual toner that is generated along with the image formation, and as shown in FIG. In addition, the amount of toner transport in the second transport pipe 970 is relatively large. In this state, the movement of the toner held around the screw member in the direction of screw rotation is limited to some extent, so that the force in the screw axis direction applied to the toner from the screw member 971 becomes relatively strong. Then, as shown in the drawing, the toner rushes out from the second transport pipe 970 into the junction, and falls toward the collection container while colliding with the side wall of the junction 980. At this time, when a part of the toner hitting the side wall of the merge portion 980 adheres to the side wall, new toner adheres to the toner and eventually forms a bowl-shaped toner mass as shown in FIG. To do. The toner lump adheres to the toner falling from the first conveyance tube 960 or the toner ejecting from the second conveyance tube 970 when a continuous image forming operation having a relatively large cumulative image area is performed. As a result, the merging portion 980 is blocked as shown in FIG.

  In addition, in the same figure, although the structure which extended the screw member 971 in the 2nd conveyance pipe 970 to the inside of the confluence | merging part 980 was shown, even if it is the structure which does not extend to the confluence | merging part 980, Depending on the amount of toner and the toner conveyance speed by the screw member 971, there is a possibility that similar toner clogging may occur. Further, the problem that occurs in the toner conveying device that conveys toner that is powder has been described, but the same problem may occur in the powder conveying device that conveys powder different from the toner.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and an object thereof is to provide the following powder conveying apparatus and image forming apparatus. That is, the powder collected in the plurality of transport pipes is suppressed to the occurrence of powder clogging in the merging portion while simplifying the configuration as compared with the case where the powder is individually transported by driving the transport member until just before the transport destination. An object of the present invention is to provide a powder conveyance device and an image forming apparatus that can be used.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a first transport tube for transporting powder toward a transport destination, and a second transport tube for transporting powder toward the transport destination. In the powder conveying apparatus having the above, the first conveying tube is one in which powder is dropped toward the conveying destination by gravity drop, and the second conveying tube is relatively driven by a driving member. Used in the horizontal direction, and is located below the first transport pipe and is located on the side of the second transport pipe, and falls from the first transport pipe. A powder and a powder falling from the first transport pipe are provided with a merging section for gravity dropping toward the transport destination while receiving the body and the powder transported from the second transport pipe. To the transport destination while receiving just below the first transport pipe A first drop region that is caused to fall by gravity, and is arranged to communicate with the first drop region at a position that is shifted to the side of the second transfer tube from directly below the first transfer tube. A second drop region is provided in the merging portion for allowing the powder fed from the pipe to drop by gravity toward the transport destination on the near side of the first drop region.
Further, the invention of claim 2 uses a screw member comprising a rotary shaft member and a spiral projection standing on the peripheral surface thereof as the transport member in the powder transport device of claim 1, One end of the screw member in the axial direction is passed from the inside of the second transport pipe into the joining section and is removed from the pipe.
Further, the invention of claim 3 is the powder transfer device according to claim 2, wherein the downstream end of the screw projection in the powder transfer direction of the screw member is positioned in the second drop region, and the first drop In the region, only the rotating shaft member of the rotating shaft member and the spiral protrusion of the screw member is positioned.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the powder conveyance device according to the third aspect, a flexible member is provided at a location within the first drop region of the entire area of the screw member in the rotation axis direction of the rotation shaft member. The blade member is fixed, and only when the free end of the blade member that rotates together with the rotary shaft member is positioned within a predetermined rotation angle range, the blade member is rubbed against the inner wall of the first fall region. It is a feature.
Further, the invention according to claim 5 is the powder conveying apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the free end side is rubbed to a position in the first drop region of the rotary shaft member of the screw member in a state where it is cantilevered. A flexible rubbing member is provided.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the powder conveying apparatus according to the fifth aspect, a protrusion that repels the rubbing member at a predetermined rotational angle position is provided at a location in the first drop region of the rotating shaft member. It is characterized by this.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the powder conveying apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vibration means for applying vibration to the screw member.
Further, the invention of claim 8 is an image forming means for forming a toner image using toner as powder, and a toner transport device for transporting the toner collected from the image forming means toward the collected toner storage means. In the image forming apparatus including the above, the powder conveyance device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 is used as the toner conveyance device.

In these inventions, the powder transported by the first transport pipe and the powder transported by the second transport pipe are merged into one at the merging portion, and then dropped into the gravity destination toward the transport destination Let Thereby, simplification of a structure can be attained compared with the case where the powder of each conveyance pipe | tube is conveyed separately by the drive of a conveyance member to immediately before a conveyance destination.
In these inventions, in order for the powder that has jumped out of the second conveying pipe into the merging portion by driving the conveying member to hit the merging portion side wall facing the second conveying tube, 2 It is necessary to cross the fall area and the first fall area. During this time, the powder is subjected to air resistance, and the moving force toward the merging portion side wall is weakened. Therefore, the powder collides with the merging portion side wall with a weaker force than that immediately after the powder has jumped out of the second transport pipe. In the toner transport device under development shown in FIG. 4, the toner that has entered the merge section 980 collides with the side wall of the merge section just across the first transport pipe 960 corresponding to the first drop region. On the other hand, in the present invention, in order for the powder to hit the junction side wall, it is necessary to cross the second fall region in addition to the first fall region. Is weakened. For this reason, it becomes difficult for the powder to adhere to the side wall of the merging portion as compared with the toner conveying device under development. In the present invention, the occurrence of powder clogging in the junction can be suppressed by making it difficult for the powder to adhere to the side wall of the junction in this way.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a main part of a toner conveying device under development. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the toner conveying device in a state where toner clogging is generated at a junction. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the toner conveying device in a state where a toner conveying amount per unit time is relatively small. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the toner conveying device in a state in which the formation of a bowl-shaped toner mass is started. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the toner conveying device in a state where the toner lump is grown. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a printer according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is an enlarged configuration diagram illustrating a process unit for K of the printer. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a transfer unit 15 and the surrounding configuration in the printer. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a toner conveying device of the printer. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a merging portion in the toner conveying device of the printer according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a merging portion in a toner conveying device of a printer according to a second embodiment. The cross-sectional view which shows the confluence | merging part of the state which is contacting the free end of the blade | wing member fixed to the rotating shaft member with the inner wall of the 1st conveyance pipe. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a merging portion in a toner conveying device of a printer according to a third embodiment. The cross-sectional view which shows the confluence | merging part of the state which made the free end of the rubbing member cantilever-supported by the inner wall of a 1st conveyance pipe separated from the rotating shaft member. The cross-sectional view which shows the confluence | merging part of the state which spaced apart the free end of the rubbing member from the inner wall of the 1st conveyance pipe. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a merging portion in a toner conveying device of a printer according to a fourth embodiment.

Hereinafter, as an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied, an embodiment of an electrophotographic printer (hereinafter simply referred to as a printer) will be described.
First, the basic configuration of the printer will be described. FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the printer. In this figure, this printer includes four process units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K for forming Y, M, C, and K toner images. These use Y, M, C, and K toners of different colors as the image forming material, but the other configurations are the same and are replaced when the lifetime is reached. Taking a process unit 1K for forming a K toner image as an example, as shown in FIG. 7, a drum-shaped photosensitive member 2K as a latent image carrier, a drum cleaning device 3K, a charge eliminating device (not shown), and a charging device 4K. And a developing device 5K. These are integrally attached to and removed from the printer body while being supported by a common support.

  The charging device 4K uniformly charges the surface of the photoreceptor 2K that is rotated clockwise in the drawing by a driving unit (not shown). The uniformly charged surface of the photosensitive member 2K is exposed and scanned by the laser beam L to carry an electrostatic latent image for K. The electrostatic latent image for K is developed into a K toner image by a developing device 5K using K toner (not shown). Then, intermediate transfer is performed on an intermediate transfer belt 16 described later.

  The drum cleaning device 3K removes the transfer residual toner adhering to the surface of the photoreceptor 2K after the intermediate transfer process. Further, the static eliminator neutralizes residual charges on the photoreceptor 2K after cleaning. By this charge removal, the surface of the photoreceptor 2K is initialized and prepared for the next image formation. Similarly, in the process units (1Y, M, C) of other colors, (Y, M, C) toner images are formed on the photoconductors (2Y, M, C), and on the intermediate transfer belt 16 described later. Intermediate transfer.

  The developing device 5K includes a vertically long hopper 6K that stores K toner (not shown) and a developing unit 7K. In the hopper 6K, an agitator 8K that is rotationally driven by a driving means (not shown), an agitation paddle 9K that is rotationally driven by a driving means (not shown) vertically below, and rotated by a driving means (not shown) below the vertical direction. A toner supply roller 10K to be driven is disposed.

  The K toner in the hopper 6K moves toward the toner supply roller 10K by its own weight while being stirred by the rotational drive of the agitator 8K and the stirring paddle 9K. The toner supply roller 10K has a metal cored bar and a roller portion made of foamed resin or the like coated on the surface of the metal core. The toner supply roller 10K adheres the K toner in the hopper portion 6K to the surface of the roller portion. Rotate while.

  In the developing unit 7K of the developing device 5K, a developing roller 11K that rotates while contacting the photoreceptor 2K and the toner supply roller 10K, and a thinning blade 12K that contacts the tip of the developing roller 11K are disposed. Yes. The K toner adhered to the toner supply roller 10K in the hopper 6K is supplied to the surface of the development roller 11K at the contact portion between the development roller 11K and the toner supply roller 10K. When the supplied K toner passes through the contact position between the roller and the thinning blade 12K as the developing roller 11K rotates, the layer thickness on the roller surface is regulated. Then, the K toner after the layer thickness regulation adheres to the electrostatic latent image for K on the surface of the photosensitive member 2K in the developing region which is a contact portion between the developing roller 11K and the photosensitive member 2K. By this adhesion, the electrostatic latent image for K is developed into a K toner image.

  Although the process unit for K has been described with reference to FIG. 7, the process units 1Y, M, and C for Y, M, and C also perform Y, M, and C on the surfaces of the photoreceptors 2Y, M, and C by the same process. A C toner image is formed.

  In FIG. 6 described above, an optical writing device 70 is disposed above the process units 1Y, M, C, and K in the vertical direction. The optical writing device 70, which is a latent image writing device, optically scans the photoreceptors 2Y, M, C, and K in the process units 1Y, M, C, and K with laser light L emitted from a laser diode based on image information. To do. By this optical scanning, electrostatic latent images for Y, M, C, and K are formed on the photoreceptors 2Y, M, C, and K. The optical writing device 70 uses a plurality of optical lenses and mirrors as a photoconductor while polarizing laser light (L) emitted from a light source in a main scanning direction with a polygon mirror that is rotationally driven by a polygon motor (not shown). Is irradiated. You may employ | adopt what performs optical writing by the LED light emitted from several LED of the LED array.

  Below the process units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K, there is disposed a transfer unit 15 that moves the endless intermediate transfer belt 16 endlessly in the counterclockwise direction while stretching. In addition to the intermediate transfer belt 16, the transfer unit 15 serving as transfer means includes a driving roller 17, a driven roller 18, four primary transfer rollers 19Y, 19M, 19C, 19K, a secondary transfer roller 20, a belt cleaning device 21, a cleaning device. A backup roller 22 is provided.

  The intermediate transfer belt 16 is stretched by a driving roller 17, a driven roller 18, a cleaning backup roller 22 and four primary transfer rollers 19Y, 19M, 19C, and 19K disposed inside the loop. Then, it is moved endlessly in the same direction by the rotational force of the driving roller 17 that is driven to rotate counterclockwise in the figure by a driving means (not shown).

  The four primary transfer rollers 19Y, 19M, 19C, and 19K sandwich the intermediate transfer belt 16 that is moved endlessly in this manner between the photoreceptors 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K. By this sandwiching, primary transfer nips for Y, M, C, and K where the front surface of the intermediate transfer belt 16 and the photoreceptors 2Y, M, C, and K abut are formed.

  A primary transfer bias is applied to each of the primary transfer rollers 19Y, 19M, 19C, and 19K by a transfer bias power source (not shown), whereby the electrostatic latent images on the photoreceptors 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K, A transfer electric field is formed between the primary transfer rollers 19Y, 19M, 19C, and 19K. Instead of the primary transfer rollers 19Y, 19M, 19C, and 19K, a transfer charger, a transfer brush, or the like may be employed.

  When Y toner formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 2Y of the Y process unit 1Y enters the above-described primary transfer nip for Y as the photoreceptor 2Y rotates, the photosensitive member 2Y is exposed to light by the action of the transfer electric field and nip pressure. Primary transfer is performed on the intermediate transfer belt 16 from the body 2Y. The intermediate transfer belt 16 on which the Y toner image is primarily transferred in this way passes through the primary transfer nips for M, C, and K along with the endless movement thereof, and the photoreceptors 2M, C, and K. The upper M, C, and K toner images are sequentially superimposed on the Y toner image and primarily transferred. A four-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 16 by the primary transfer of superposition.

  The secondary transfer roller 20 of the transfer unit 15 is disposed outside the loop of the intermediate transfer belt 16, and the intermediate transfer belt 16 is sandwiched between the driven roller 18 inside the loop. By this sandwiching, a secondary transfer nip where the front surface of the intermediate transfer belt 16 and the secondary transfer roller 20 abut is formed. A secondary transfer bias is applied to the secondary transfer roller 20 by a transfer bias power source (not shown). By this application, a secondary transfer electric field is formed between the secondary transfer roller 20 and the driven roller connected to the ground.

  Below the transfer unit 15, a paper feed cassette 30 that stores a plurality of recording sheets P in a bundle of sheets is slidably attached to the printer housing. In the paper feed cassette 30, a paper feed roller 30a is brought into contact with the top recording paper P of the paper bundle, and the recording paper is rotated by rotating it in a counterclockwise direction in the drawing at a predetermined timing. P is sent out toward the paper feed path 31.

  A registration roller pair 32 is disposed near the end of the paper feed path 31. The registration roller pair 32 stops the rotation of both rollers as soon as the recording paper P delivered from the paper feed cassette 30 is sandwiched between the rollers. Then, rotation driving is resumed at a timing at which the sandwiched recording paper P can be synchronized with the four-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 16 in the above-described secondary transfer nip, and the recording paper P is directed to the secondary transfer nip. Send it out.

  The four-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 16 brought into close contact with the recording paper P at the secondary transfer nip is secondarily transferred onto the recording paper P under the influence of the secondary transfer electric field and the nip pressure. Combined with the white color of P, a full color toner image is obtained. The recording paper P having the full-color toner image formed on the surface in this manner is separated from the secondary transfer roller 20 and the intermediate transfer belt 16 by the curvature when passing through the secondary transfer nip. Then, the toner is fed into a fixing device 34 described later via a post-transfer conveyance path 33.

  The transfer residual toner that has not been transferred to the recording paper P adheres to the intermediate transfer belt 16 after passing through the secondary transfer nip. This is cleaned from the belt surface by a belt cleaning device 21 in contact with the front surface of the intermediate transfer belt 16. The cleaning backup roller 22 disposed inside the loop of the intermediate transfer belt 16 backs up the cleaning of the belt by the belt cleaning device 21 from the inside of the loop. Hereinafter, the toner removed from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 16 by the belt cleaning device 21 is referred to as belt waste toner.

  The fixing device 34 forms a fixing nip by a fixing roller 34a containing a heat source such as a halogen lamp (not shown) and a pressure roller 34b that rotates while contacting the fixing roller 34a with a predetermined pressure. The recording paper P fed into the fixing device 34 is sandwiched between the fixing nips such that the unfixed toner image carrying surface is brought into close contact with the fixing roller 34a. Then, the toner in the toner image is softened by the influence of heating and pressurization, and the full color image is fixed.

  The recording paper P discharged from the fixing device 34 passes through the post-fixing conveyance path 35 and then reaches the branch point between the paper discharge path 36 and the pre-reversal conveyance path 41. On the side of the post-fixing conveyance path 35, a switching claw 42 that is rotationally driven around a rotation shaft 42a is disposed. By the rotation, the vicinity of the end of the post-fixing conveyance path 35 is closed. Or open. At the timing when the recording paper P is sent out from the fixing device 34, the switching claw 42 stops at the rotational position indicated by the solid line in the drawing, and the vicinity of the end of the post-fixing conveyance path 35 is opened. Therefore, the recording paper P enters the paper discharge path 36 from the conveyance path 35 after fixing, and is sandwiched between the rollers of the paper discharge roller pair 37.

  When the single-sided print mode is set by an input operation to an operation unit including a numeric keypad (not shown) or a control signal sent from a personal computer (not shown), the recording sandwiched between the paper discharge roller pair 37 is performed. The paper P is discharged out of the machine as it is. Then, it is stacked on the sheet placement portion which is the outer surface portion of the upper cover 50 of the housing.

  On the other hand, when the duplex printing mode is set, the trailing edge of the recording paper P conveyed through the paper discharge path 36 while the front end is sandwiched between the paper discharge roller pair 37 passes through the post-fixing conveyance path 35. The switching claw 42 is rotated to the position of the one-dot chain line in the drawing, and the vicinity of the end of the post-fixing conveyance path 35 is closed. At substantially the same time, the paper discharge roller pair 37 starts to rotate in the reverse direction. Then, the recording paper P is conveyed while the rear end side is directed to the top, and enters the pre-reversal conveyance path 41.

  In FIG. 6, one end of the printer is a reversing unit 40 that can be opened and closed with respect to the main body of the housing by swinging about a swing shaft 40a. When the paper discharge roller pair 37 rotates in the reverse direction, the recording paper P enters the pre-reversal conveyance path 41 of the reversing unit 40 and is conveyed from the upper side to the lower side in the vertical direction. Then, after passing between the rollers of the pair of reverse conveying rollers 43, it enters the reverse conveying path 44 that is curved in a semicircular shape. Furthermore, while the upper and lower surfaces are reversed as the sheet is conveyed along the curved shape, the traveling direction from the upper side in the vertical direction to the lower side is also reversed, and conveyed from the lower side in the vertical direction toward the upper side. Is done. Thereafter, the toner enters the secondary transfer nip again through the above-described paper feed path 31. Then, after the full color image is collectively transferred to the other surface, the post-transfer conveyance path 33, the fixing device 34, the post-fixation conveyance path 35, the paper discharge path 36, and the paper discharge roller pair 37 are sequentially passed. And discharged outside the machine.

  The reversing unit 40 includes an outer cover 45 that can swing with respect to the main body of the housing, and a second swinging body 46 that can swing further with respect to the outer cover 45. Specifically, the outer cover 45 of the reversing unit 40 is supported so as to swing around a swinging shaft 40a provided in the housing of the printer main body. By this swinging, the outer cover 45 opens and closes with respect to the housing together with the second swinging body 46 held therein. As shown by the dotted line in the figure, when the outer cover 45 is opened together with the second rocking body 46 therein, the paper feed path 31, the secondary transfer nip formed between the reversing unit 40 and the printer main body side, The post-transfer conveyance path 33, the fixing nip, the post-fixation conveyance path 35, and the paper discharge path 36 are vertically divided into two and exposed to the outside. Thereby, jammed paper in the paper feed path 31, the secondary transfer nip, the post-transfer conveyance path 33, the fixing nip, the post-fixation conveyance path 35, and the paper discharge path 36 can be easily removed.

  The second rocking body 46 is supported by the external cover 45 so as to rock around a rocking shaft (not shown) provided in the external cover 45 in a state where the external cover 45 is opened. When the second oscillating body 46 is opened with respect to the outer cover 45 by this swing, the pre-reverse transport path 41 and the reverse transport path 44 are vertically divided into two and exposed to the outside. As a result, the jammed paper in the pre-reversal conveyance path 41 and the reversal conveyance path 44 can be easily removed.

  The upper cover 50 of the printer casing is a door for the casing. As shown by the arrows in the figure, the shaft member 51 is supported so as to be swingable. By rotating a predetermined angle in the counterclockwise direction in the figure, the shaft member 51 is opened. And the maintenance inspection opening of a housing is opened.

  A toner transport device 100 is disposed between the transfer unit 15 and the paper feed cassette 30 in the vertical direction inside the printer. The toner conveying device 100 conveys the toner collected from the process units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K of each color and the intermediate transfer belt 21 to its own collected toner container.

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the transfer unit 15 and its peripheral configuration in the printer. 6 shows the printer from the front side, but in FIG. 8, the transfer unit 15 and the surrounding configuration are shown from the back side as opposed to FIG. In FIG. 8, a belt cleaning device 21 and a process unit 1Y for Y are disposed above the transfer unit 15. In addition to these, process units for M, C, and K are also provided, but in the drawing, only the process unit 1Y for Y is shown for convenience.

  Below the transfer unit 15, a toner transport device 100 is disposed. The toner conveying device 100 includes a first conveying tube 101, a second conveying tube 102, a merging portion 103, a Y toner conveying tube 104, an M toner conveying tube 105, a C toner conveying tube 106, a K toner conveying tube 107, and a collected toner container. 120 and so on.

  The first conveying pipe 101, the Y toner conveying pipe 104, the M toner conveying pipe 105, the C toner conveying pipe 106, and the K toner conveying pipe 107 are arranged so as to extend in the vertical direction and to be aligned in the horizontal direction. It is installed. In addition, the merging portion 103 is disposed so as to be positioned directly below the first transport pipe 101 in a posture extending in the vertical direction. Moreover, the 2nd conveyance pipe 102 is arrange | positioned with the attitude | position extended in a horizontal direction.

  A toner receiving opening is formed at the upper end of the first transport tube 101. On the other hand, a toner discharge pipe 21a protrudes from the casing of the belt cleaning device 21 in the belt width direction. The toner discharge pipe 21a is for discharging the toner to the outside of the belt cleaning device 21 as the discharge screw (not shown) disposed in the belt cleaning device 21 is driven to rotate. A toner discharge port facing downward in the vertical direction is formed. When the belt cleaning device 21 is set at the normal position of the printer main body, the toner discharge port facing downward in the vertical direction of the toner discharge tube 21a and the toner receiving opening provided at the upper end of the first transport tube 101 are opposed to each other. To do. The belt waste toner discharged from the toner discharge port of the toner discharge pipe 21 a is dropped into the first transfer pipe 101 through the toner receiving opening of the first transfer pipe 101.

  Similar to the first transport tube 101, a toner receiving opening is formed at the upper end of the Y toner transport tube 104. On the other hand, a toner discharge pipe 13Y protrudes in the belt width direction from the casing of the Y process unit 1Y. Inside the Y process unit 1Y, the drum cleaning device scrapes off the transfer residual Y toner from the surface of the photoconductor, and conveys it to the outside of the casing by the rotational drive of the recovery screw. The toner discharge pipe 13Y of the process unit 1Y is for discharging the transfer residual Y toner conveyed by the recovery screw to the outside of the process unit 1Y, and a toner discharge port facing downward in the vertical direction is provided at an end of the toner discharge pipe 13Y. Is formed. In a state where the Y process unit 1Y is set at the normal position of the printer main body, the toner discharge port facing the lower side in the vertical direction of the toner discharge pipe 13Y of the unit and the toner receiving provided at the upper end of the Y toner transport pipe 104 The opening faces. The transfer residual Y toner discharged from the toner discharge port of the toner discharge tube 13Y passes through the toner receiving opening of the Y toner transfer tube 104 and is dropped into the Y toner transfer tube 104. Of the two colors Y, M, C, and K, only Y has been described. However, in M, C, and K, similarly to Y, the transfer residual toner discharged from the toner discharge tube of the process unit is M. , C, K are dropped into the toner conveying pipes (105, 106, 107).

  FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the toner conveying device 100. In the same figure, in the 2nd conveyance pipe 102 arrange | positioned with the attitude | position extended in a horizontal direction, the rotating shaft member 110b supported rotatably, and the helical form erected on the peripheral surface of this A screw member 110 having a protrusion 110a is disposed. With respect to the screw member 110, as shown in FIG. 8, the driving gear 111, the helical gear 112, and the rotating shaft member of the screw member 110 fixed to the shaft of the driving roller of the transfer unit 15. The rotational driving force is transmitted through the screw gear 113 fixed to the shaft. The screw member 110 rotated by this transmission conveys the toner in the second conveying tube 102 from the right side to the left side in FIG. To the second transport tube 102, a K toner transport tube 107, a C toner transport tube 106, an M toner transport tube 105, and a Y toner transport tube 104 are connected in order from the downstream side in the toner transport direction by the screw member 110. ing. The K toner dropped from the K process unit into the K toner transport pipe 107 is gravity dropped in the K toner transport pipe 107 and sent into the screw member 110 in the second transport pipe 102. In the process of being transported by the screw member 110, the toner is mixed with the C toner that is dropped into the C toner transport pipe 106 from the C process unit and then drops by gravity toward the screw member 110. Thereafter, the C and K toners in the screw member 110 are further transported by the screw member 110 and then dropped from the M process unit into the M toner transport pipe 105 and then dropped toward the screw member 110. Mixed with incoming M toner. Thereafter, the M, C, and K toners in the screw member 110 are further transported by the screw member 110 and then dropped from the Y process unit into the Y toner transport pipe 104 and then toward the screw member 110. It is mixed with Y toner that falls by gravity. In this way, the screw member 110 in the second conveyance tube 102 mixes the Y, M, C, and K toners that fall by gravity from the Y, M, C, and K toner conveyance tubes (104 to 107). Then, the second transport pipe 102 is transported toward the left end in the drawing. Hereinafter, the mixture of Y, M, C, and K toner in the second conveyance tube 102 is referred to as drum toner.

The lower end of the first transfer pipe 101 and the left end of the second transfer pipe 102 in the drawing are each connected to the junction 103. The merging unit 103 includes first and fall area _{A 1} and a second falling region _{A 2.} The first fall area A ₁ is an area for receiving the belt waste toner that falls by gravity from the first transport pipe 101 and then dropping it further toward the collected toner container 120. The second drop area A ₂ is used to drop the gravitational drop toward the collected toner container 120 after receiving the drum waste toner sent along with the rotational drive of the screw member 110 in the second transport pipe 102. It is an area. The first fall area A ₁ and the second fall area A ₂ are provided at positions shifted from each other in the horizontal direction, and receive the toner so that the received toner is dropped toward the collected toner container 120 as it is. There is no bottom wall. The length of the second fall area A ₂ in the screw axis direction is such that the drum waste toner fed from the second transport pipe 102 through the second fall area A ₂ by the rotational drive of the screw member 110 is changed by the rotation of the screw member 110. before become transported to the first falling region A _1, it has become large enough to fall from the screw member 110. outside screw. More specifically, in this printer, a four-color full-color image in which the full-color solid images respectively formed on the Y, M, C, and K photoconductors 2Y, M, C, and K are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 21 in an overlapping manner. Is continuously output to a plurality of recording papers, the toner conveyance amount per unit time in the second conveyance tube 102 is the largest. Be carried out continuous image forming operation of the 4-color whole-area solid image, it is dropped into the screw out from the second falling region A ₂ in screw within the second conveying pipe 102 of the drum the waste all the toner merging unit 103 it more of the length can, the dimension of the second falling region a ₂ of the screw axis direction is set.

In this configuration, drums waste toner that has entered the merging section 103 from the second conveying pipe 102, in order to hit the converging side walls continuing from the first transport pipe 101, the second falling region A ₂ and the first falling region A ₁ It is necessary to cross Compared to the toner conveying device only in development had gotten bumped drum waste toner to the converging side walls were cross directly below the first conveying pipe 101 corresponding to the first falling region A _1, the drum waste toner merging portion It becomes difficult to hit the side wall. Further, even if got bumped example, the impact at that time, by the amount that causes cross the second falling region A _2, weaker than the toner conveying device being developed. As a result, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of the cocoon-like powder lump on the side wall of the merging portion and suppress the occurrence of toner clogging in the merging portion 103.

  In the collection toner container 120, a collection conveyance screw member 122 is disposed in a posture extending in the horizontal direction at a position slightly above the upper limit level of toner storage in the collection toner container 120. The waste toner that has fallen into the collected toner container 120 from the merging portion 103 accumulates in an area immediately below the merging portion 103 (hereinafter referred to as a region immediately below the merging portion) in the entire area of the collected toner container 120 in the horizontal direction. When the height of the waste toner that accumulates in the region immediately below the merging portion in this way becomes higher than the above-described toner storage upper limit level, the waste toner comes into contact with the recovery conveyance screw member 122, and from the left side to the right side in the figure. It will be transported towards. In this manner, the waste toner exceeding the toner storage upper limit level in the region directly below the merge portion is transported by the recovery transport screw member 122, so that the level of waste toner in the recovery toner container 120 is leveled to the toner storage upper limit level. To go.

  When the level of the waste toner is leveled to the upper limit level of the toner storage up to the right end region in the drawing, the toner full error sensor fixed to the outer wall of the collected toner container 120 The waste toner is detected and a full error signal is output. The collection conveyance screw member 122 is driven to rotate outside the collection toner container 120 by transmitting a rotational driving force from a drive transmission system (not shown) to the collection screw gear 121 fixed to the rotation shaft member.

  A screw member 110 for transporting drum waste toner in the second transport pipe 102 passes from the second transport pipe 102 through the junction 103 and out of the pipe. Thus, by letting the screw member 110 come out of the tube, the end of the screw member 110 on the downstream side in the toner conveyance direction can be rotatably supported by a bearing disposed outside the tube wall or the tube.

Next, printers according to the respective examples in which a more characteristic configuration is added to the printer according to the embodiment will be described. Note that the configuration of the printer according to each example is the same as that of the embodiment unless otherwise specified.
[First embodiment]
FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating the merge unit 103 in the toner conveyance device of the printer according to the first embodiment. Toner transport device of the printer according to the first embodiment as shown, one end of the screw axial direction of the helical projection 100a in the screw member 110 is positioned in the second dropping area A _2, the first falling region A ₁ Inside, only the rotating shaft member 110b of the rotating shaft member 110b and the spiral protrusion 110a of the screw member 110 is positioned. In such a configuration, the occurrence of toner clogging in the first conveyance tube 101 can be suppressed as compared with the case where the spiral protrusion 110a is positioned in the first drop region A1.

More specifically, the first part of the falling region A belt waste toner dropped in _one of the merging portion 103 from the first transport pipe 101, hit the screw member 110. At this time, the screw member 110 may adhere to the surface. With respect to the toner fixed on the surface of the screw member 110, the subsequent toner is easily fixed to form a toner lump. When helical projection 110a of the screw member 110 to the first falling region A ₁ is present, as compared to the absence, screw member 110 is an area to receive the falling toner from the first conveying pipe 101 is increased. When gradually grown toner mass on the surface of the helical projection 110a, finally, the toner mass to inhibit the entry of the belt waste toner from the first conveying pipe 101 to the first falling region A _1, The belt waste toner starts to stay at the end of the first conveyance tube 101. If the staying toner increases, the end of the first transport pipe 101 is cross-linked, and toner clogging occurs.

Therefore, in the printer according to the first embodiment, among the entire region in the longitudinal direction of the screw member 110, portions located in the first falling region A ₁ is not be provided with the helical projection 110a. Thereby, in the first falling region A _1, to reduce the area that receives the toner screw member 110 is falling down from the first transport pipe 101, suppress the growth of the toner mass in the screw member 110 on the surface . Thus, hardly occurs a phenomenon that toner mass of the screw member 110 on the surface resulting in preventing the entry of the toner from the first conveying pipe 101 to the first falling region A _1, the first conveying pipe 101 The occurrence of toner clogging at the end can be suppressed.

[Second Embodiment]
Also printer according to the second embodiment, like the first embodiment, among the entire region in the longitudinal direction of the screw member 110, portions located in the first falling region A ₁ is not provided with helical projection 110a I have to.

  FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the merge unit 103 in the toner conveying device of the printer according to the second embodiment. This figure has shown the cross section of the position of a 1st fall area | region among the whole region of the screw axial direction in a junction part. As shown in the drawing, a flexible blade member 111 is fixed at a position in the first drop region of the rotating shaft member 110b of the screw member. The blade member 111 is made of a flexible member such as a rubber plate or a plastic plate, and the blade tip side can be freely bent.

  In the cross-sectional direction, the dimension of the first transport pipe 101 is smaller than the dimension of the merging portion 103, and an edge formed by the inner wall of the pipe is formed at the boundary between the first transport pipe 101 and the merging portion 103. . When the rotary shaft member 110b is rotated to a rotation angle position that extends the blade member 111 in the approximately 10 o'clock direction of the watch, as shown in FIG. 12, the free end of the blade member 111 is the inner wall of the first conveying pipe 101 near the edge. It will bend while hitting. When the rotating shaft member 110b further rotates, the free end of the blade member 111 is detached from the inner wall of the first transport pipe 101 and returns to the original posture that is not bent due to the strength of the waist. Due to the reaction at this time, the rotary shaft member 110b is vibrated.

  Further, when the rotary shaft member 110b is rotated to the rotation angle position at which the blade member 111 extends in the approximately 2 o'clock direction of the timepiece, the free end of the blade member 111 is bent while abutting against the upper wall of the merging portion 103 in the vicinity of the edge. . When the rotating shaft member 110b further rotates, the free end of the blade member 111 is detached from the upper wall of the merging portion 103, and returns to the original posture that is not bent due to the strength of the waist. Also by the reaction at this time, the rotating shaft member 110b is vibrated.

  By periodically applying vibration to the rotary shaft member 110b in this way, when it falls from the first transport pipe 101 into the junction 103, it strikes the rotary shaft member 110b and adheres to the surface of the rotary shaft member 110. The belt waste toner that has accumulated is screened off from the surface of the rotary shaft member 110b. Thereby, it is possible to further suppress the occurrence of toner clogging at the end of the first conveyance tube 101 by suppressing the growth of the toner mass on the surface of the rotating shaft member 110b.

[Third embodiment]
Also printer according to the third embodiment, as in the first embodiment, among the entire region in the longitudinal direction of the screw member 110, portions located in the first falling region A ₁ is not provided with helical projection 110a I have to.

  FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the merge unit 103 in the toner conveying device of the printer according to the third embodiment. This figure has shown the cross section of the position of a 1st fall area | region among the whole areas of the screw axis direction in the confluence | merging part 103. FIG. As shown in the drawing, at the position of the first drop region in the merging portion 103, the free end side is cantilevered near the end of the inner wall of the first transport pipe 101 and the free end side is the first in the rotary shaft member 110 b of the screw member. A flexible rubbing member 115 for rubbing a portion in the falling region is provided. When the rubbing member 115 falls from the first conveying pipe 101 into the joining portion 103, the belt rubbing toner that has hit the rotating shaft member 110 b and adheres to the surface of the rotating shaft member 110 is removed. Scrape from. Thereby, it is possible to further suppress the occurrence of toner clogging at the end of the first conveyance tube 101 by suppressing the growth of the toner mass on the surface of the rotating shaft member 110b.

  A protrusion 112 that repels the rubbing member 115 when the rotation shaft member 110 rotates to a predetermined rotation angle position is provided at a location in the first drop region of the rotation shaft member 110. The protrusion 112 is made of a highly rigid material that cannot be deformed. In this printer, the free end of the rubbing member 115 is not constantly rubbed against the rotating shaft member 110, but when the rotating shaft member 110 rotates to a predetermined rotational angle position, as shown in FIG. As described above, the protrusion 112 is brought into contact with the free end of the rubbing member 115 to bend the rubbing member 115. The free end of the rubbing member 115 is temporarily separated from the rotating shaft member 110 by this bending. Thereafter, when the rubbing member 115 is moved to a position where the rubbing member 115 is separated from the projection 112 by the rotation of the rotating shaft member 110, the rubbing member 115 which has been largely bent is bent by its waist strength as shown in FIG. Return to the original posture. At this time, by strongly rubbing the free end of the rubbing member 115 against the rotating shaft member 110, the effect of scraping off the toner from the surface of the rotating shaft member 110 by the rubbing member 115 is improved.

[Fourth embodiment]
Also printer according to the fourth embodiment, like the first embodiment, among the entire region in the longitudinal direction of the screw member 110, portions located in the first falling region A ₁ is not provided with helical projection 110a I have to.

  FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the merge unit 103 in the toner conveyance device of the printer according to the fourth embodiment. In the figure, a vibration exciter 130 is attached to the outer wall of the merging portion 103 so as to vibrate the casing of the merging portion 103 by itself. The vibration exciter 130 is periodically driven by a control unit (not shown), and thus vibrates the rotating shaft member 110b through the casing of the merge unit 103. Due to this vibration, the belt waste toner that hits the rotating shaft member 110b and adheres to the surface of the rotating shaft member 110 when it falls into the junction 103 from the first conveying pipe 101 is screened from the surface of the rotating shaft member 110b. Drop it. Thereby, it is possible to further suppress the occurrence of toner clogging at the end of the first conveyance tube 101 by suppressing the growth of the toner mass on the surface of the rotating shaft member 110b.

As described above, in the printer according to the embodiment, as the first conveyance tube 101, the one that causes the belt waste toner, which is powder, to fall by gravity toward the joining portion 103 is used, and the second conveyance tube 102 is disposed in the tube. powder serving to move the drum waste toner relatively horizontally using conveys toward the merging portion 103, a first falling region a ₁ the first transport pipe by the rotation of the conveying member serving screw member 110 together disposed beneath the 101, it is disposed a second falling region a ₂ in a region shifted toward the second conveying pipe 102 than below the first conveying pipe 101. In such a configuration, the belt waste toner is gravity-dropped toward the junction 103 in the first transport pipe 101, thereby comparing the belt waste toner in the first transport pipe 101 by driving the transport member, The cost can be reduced by simplifying the configuration. Further, the belt waste toner dropped into the first falling region A ₁ of the confluent portion 103 from the first transport pipe 101, it can be dropped toward the directly collected toner container 120.

  Further, in the printer according to the embodiment, a screw member 110 including a rotating shaft member 110b and a spiral protrusion 110a standing on the peripheral surface thereof as a conveying member disposed in the second conveying tube 102. The end of the screw member 110 on the downstream side in the toner conveyance direction is passed from the second conveyance pipe 102 through the confluence section 103 to the outside of the pipe. In such a configuration, the end of the screw member 110 on the downstream side in the toner conveyance direction can be rotatably supported by the bearing disposed on the tube wall or outside the tube.

In the printer according to the embodiment, the toner conveying direction downstream end of the helical projection 110a in the screw member 110 is positioned in the second falling within area A _2, the first fall area A _1, screw member Of the rotating shaft member 110b and the helical protrusion 110a in 110, only the rotating shaft member 110b is positioned. In such a configuration, as compared with the case of positioning the helical projection 110a to the first falling region A _1, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of toner clogging at the end of the first conveying pipe 101.

In the printer according to the second embodiment, among the entire area in the rotation axis direction of the rotary shaft member 110b of the screw member 110, the position of the first falling region A _1, the flexible blade members 111 fixed the free end of the blade member 111 which rotates together with the rotation shaft member 110b only when is positioned in a predetermined rotation angle range, so that causes rubbing on the first inner wall of the drop area a _1. In such a configuration, the reaction that occurs when you play regularly is rubbed into the first inner wall of the drop area A ₁ of the blade member 111, giving regular vibration to the rotary shaft member 110b, the rotary shaft member 110b surface By urging the toner to detach from the toner, occurrence of toner clogging at the end of the first conveyance tube 101 can be further suppressed.

In the printer according to the third embodiment, cantilevered state causes rubs the free end side portion of the first falling region A ₁ in the rotation axis member 110b of the screw member 110 flexible sliding A rubbing member 115 is provided. In such a configuration, the belt waste toner adhering to the surface of the rotating shaft member 110 is scraped off from the rotating shaft member 110 by the rubbing member 115, thereby suppressing the growth of toner mass on the surface of the rotating shaft member 110b. Further, the occurrence of toner clogging at the end of the first transport pipe 101 can be further suppressed.

In the printer according to the third embodiment, the projection 112 to play the rubbing member 115 at a predetermined rotational angular position, is provided at a location of the first falling region A ₁ in the rotation axis member 110b. In such a configuration, the rubbing member 115 is periodically repelled by the protrusion and strongly rubbed against the rotating shaft member 110b, thereby improving the scraping effect of the toner from the surface of the rotating shaft member 110 by the rubbing member 115, and the first. Occurrence of toner clogging at the end of the conveyance tube 101 can be further suppressed.

  In the printer according to the fourth embodiment, a vibration device 130 that applies vibration to the screw member 110 is provided. In such a configuration, the occurrence of toner clogging at the end of the first conveyance tube 101 can be further suppressed by urging the toner from the surface of the rotating shaft member 110b by the vibration applied by the vibration device 130.

1Y, M, C, K: Process unit (part of image forming means)
15: Transfer unit (part of image forming means)
70: Optical writing device 70 (part of image forming means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101: 1st conveyance pipe 102: 2nd conveyance pipe 103: Junction part 110: Screw member 110a: Spiral protrusion 110b: Rotating shaft member 111: Blade | wing part agent 112: Protrusion 115: Rub member 120: Collected toner container ( The transport destination)
A ₁ : First drop area A ₂ : Second drop area

Japanese Patent No. 4373749 JP 2002-307737 A

Claims (8)

In a powder transport apparatus having a first transport pipe for transporting powder toward a transport destination and a second transport pipe for transporting powder toward the transport destination,
As the first transport pipe, a powder is dropped into the transport destination by gravity drop,
As the second transport pipe, a powder is transported in a relatively horizontal direction by driving a transport member,
The powder that is located below the first transport pipe and is located on the side of the second transport pipe, and that falls from the first transport pipe, and transports from the second transport pipe While accepting each of the powders that are received, a merging portion is provided for gravity dropping toward the transport destination,
And a first fall region in which the powder falling from the first transport pipe is gravity dropped toward the transport destination while receiving the powder just below the first transport pipe, and more than just below the first transport pipe. The powder is disposed so as to communicate with the first drop region at a position shifted toward the second transfer tube, and the powder fed from the second transfer tube is transferred to the front side of the first drop region. A powder conveyance device, wherein a second drop region for gravity drop toward the tip is provided in the junction. In the powder conveying apparatus according to claim 1,
A screw member having a rotating shaft member and a spiral protrusion standing on the peripheral surface thereof is used as the conveying member, and one end portion of the screw member in the axial direction is connected from the second conveying pipe to the inside of the merging portion. A powder conveying device, wherein the powder conveying device is pulled out of the tube through a tube. In the powder conveying apparatus according to claim 2,
The downstream end of the spiral projection of the screw member in the powder conveyance direction is positioned in the second drop region, and the rotary shaft member and the spiral projection of the screw member are located in the first drop region. Among them, only the rotating shaft member is positioned. In the powder conveying apparatus according to claim 3,
A free end of the blade member that rotates with the rotary shaft member by fixing a flexible blade member at a location within the first drop region of the entire area of the screw member in the rotational axis direction of the rotary shaft member. A powder conveying device characterized in that the powder is rubbed against the inner wall of the first drop region only when the is positioned within a predetermined rotation angle range. In the powder conveying apparatus according to claim 3,
A powder conveying device characterized by comprising a flexible rubbing member for rubbing a free end side to a position in the first drop region of the rotary shaft member of the screw member in a cantilever supported state. apparatus. In the powder conveying apparatus according to claim 5,
A powder conveying apparatus, wherein a protrusion that repels the rubbing member at a predetermined rotational angle position is provided at a location in the first drop region of the rotating shaft member. In the powder conveying apparatus according to claim 3,
A powder conveying apparatus characterized in that a vibration means for applying vibration to the screw member is provided. In an image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that forms a toner image using toner as powder; and a toner conveying device that conveys the toner collected from the image forming unit toward a collected toner storage unit.
An image forming apparatus using the powder conveying device according to claim 1 as the toner conveying device.

Images